Roundabout.



J.- D. GUINN.

ROUNDABOl JT. APPLICATION FILED nov.20. I914.

Patented June 6; 1916.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. D. GUINN.

ROUNDABOUT.

APPLICATION FILED uov.2o. 19H.

Patented June 6, 1916.

,3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. vasmxa'rorl. D- c.

Patented June 6, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- J. D. GUINN. ROUNDABOUT.

APPLICATION man uov.2o. 1914.

JOSEPH D. GUINN, OF SALAMANCA, NEW YORK.

ROUNDAEOUT.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed November 20, 1914. Serial No. 873,152.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnri-r D. GUINN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salamanca, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Roundabouts, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in roundabouts or amusementdevices of that kind having a rotatable or horizontally oscillatoryplatform for the occupants.

The objects of this invention are to produce an amusement device of thischaracter of novel construction in which the rotation of the platformproduces a rising and falling motion of the same; also to provide adevice of this kind having improved operat ing mechanism for theplatform adapted to be operated by means of an engine or other source ofpower; also to improve the construction of devices of this kind in therespects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a roundaboutembodying the invention. Fig. :2 is a similar elevation hereof showingthe platform in an elevated position. Fig. 3 is a plan View thereofshowing an engine for actuating the platform. Fig. 4c is a sectionalview of areversing clutch for enabling the engine to actuate theplatform in either direction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary central sectional elevation of the roundabout onan enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on astilllarger scale, of the upper end of the post from which the platformis suspended. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of theroundabout showing one of the spokes of the driving wheel. Fig. 8 is afragmentary sectional plan View thereof on line 88, Fig. 5.

A represents a stationary upright center post, and B represents theplatform which is suspended from a support at the upper portion of thecenter post by cables, ropes or other suitable flexible connections 0which permit the platform to oscillate about the center post and causeit to rise and fall as the cables C wind on and unwind from the centerpost by reason of the oscillations of the platform.

The center post A can be of any suitableconstruction and can be securedin upright position in any sultable manner. For instance, as shown, thepost conslsts of a metal pipe and the lower end of the post is securedin an upright socket or tubular part a of a base plate a. A key orupwardly projectmg portion (4 is provided at the bottom of the socket,being preferably made integral with the base plate, and engages in acorresponding notch or recess in the lower end of the post A to hold thepost against rotation. The base plate is secured to cross beams aresting on the ground and which are of suflicient length to give thedevice the necessary stability. A nut a is screwed on the upper end ofthe tubular socket a and a ring or gasket a? around the post centers thepost and holds it rigid in the socket and tightly closes the jointbetween the same and the upper end of the socket.

The platform B may be of any suitable construction, that shown beingannular in form and provided with seats or a bench b of any sort desiredfor the occupants, preferably arranged near the inner edge of theplatform, and with a railing 6 near the outer edge thereof. The platformshown comprises a frame constructed of inner and outer circular membersor beams b and 6 connected by radial members If, the frame being coveredby a floor 6 The supporting cables C for the platform are preferablyfastened at their lower ends to eyebolts c secured to lugs or brackets con the radial frame members 6 and at their upper ends to spools orrollers 0 journaled on pins 0 which are secured in a cap fastened to theupper end of the tubular post. The cap shown consists of two parts 0 and0 the part 0 being secured to the upper end of the post and the part 0being secured to and covering the part 0 Any other means for securingthe cables to the platform and to the post may be used if desired.

The platform is set in motion by applying force to the same to start itturning, so that the cables C are wound in one direction on the centerpost and raise the platform a distance depending upon the extent ofrotation thereof, and when the platform is released, it will descend andrevolve in the opposite direction and reversely wind the cables on thecenter post. The platform is thus turned alternately in oppositedirections and the motion and speed gradually increased until it hasacquired considerable momentum, when it will oscillate back and forthand rise and fall for a considerable period of time without furtherapplication of force,

In the construction shown, power-driven mechanism is preferably employedfor imparting movement to the platform from a horizontally rotatabledriven member or pulley D, which includes a hub (Z journaled on thetubular socket a of the base, preferably by means of antifrictionbearings (Z d, a grooved rim (Z for a driving belt or cable, and aplurality of spokes (Z connecting the rim (Z with radial extensions (Zof the hub.

The platform is operated from the driven pulley D by means of aplurality of connecting rods or members which form a slidable ortelescopic connection between the pulley D, which rotates in a fixedplane, and the platform 13 which moves up and down while rotating. Theconnecting members shown for this purpose each include an arm or part Ehaving a bifurcated inner portion, the inner ends of which are pivotedat e eto the pulley D, and a part F comprising two legs f f pivoted at ff to the platform. The outer end 6 of the part E is slidable endwise ina bearing f secured on the part F. By means of this construction the twoparts E and F of the connecting member slide relatively to each. otherwhen. rotary motion is imparted to the platform from the pulley D andthus enable the platform to move up and down relatively to the pulleywhile force is applied to the platform through the connecting members toturn the platform.

6 represents a stop or collar, preferably adjustable at the outer end 6of the part E of each connecting member, to limit the upward movement ofthe platform; and 6 represents a similar stop or collar on the part c atthe other side of the bearing 7. The stops 6 serve to center theplatform relatively to the pulley D and hold it horizontal and steadywhen the platform is in its lowest position. The rods or connectingmembers could be slidably and pivotally connected to the platform in anyother suitable uy suitable means may be used for driving the pulley D toactuate the platform. Figs. 3 and 4 show how this can be accomplished bymeans of an engine or motor. In these figures, G represents an engine ormotor having a shaft 9 provided with two pulleys g and 57 These pulleysare con nected by means of belts g and 9*, one of which is crossed, topulleys h h of a reversing clutch H. The pulleys h 72. are mounted torevolve freely about a shaft if and are rigidly connected with clutchmembers h if. A movable clutch member it is splined to the shaft and isprovided with clutch faces It and 71 adapted to be moved into engagementwith either of the clutch members it h by moving the movable memberlengthwise of the shaft, so that the shaft 71, can be driven in onedirection or in another. The movable member can be actuated by a shiftrod it having an arm 7L9 engaging a circumferential groove h in themovable member. I represents a pulley on the shaft 71/ which isconnected by means of a belt or cable to the pulley D of the roundabout.

In the operation of the device, the movable clutch member may be placedin either position to start the platform rotating in one direction.After the cables have been wound on the center postfthe clutch can bereleased to permit the cables tounwind, so that the platform willcontinue to rotate in opposite directions and will, by its own momentum,alternately wind the cables on the post in opposite directions. Ifdesired, the clutch member in starting the roundabout can be reversed atshort intervals so that the cables are gradually wound on the centerpost to a greater extent, thus raising the platform more at each windingof the cables, until the maximum height desired is reached, after whichthe platform will continue to rotate for some time.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a roundabout, the combination of an upright center post which isheld in a fixed position and prevented from turning, a platform arrangedto rotate about said center post and rise and fall, flexible connectionsattached to the upper part of said center post and to said platform forsuspending the platform, and means rotatable about said post andconnected with the platform for applying force to the platform to rotatethe same to cause said flexible connections to wind on said center postwhereby the platform is caused to oscillate horizontally and rise andfall.

2. In a roundabout, the combination of a stationary center post, aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down relatively to thepost, flexible connections sus pending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the rotation of said platform, amember rotatable about said post and having a direct operativeconnection with said platform, and means for driving said member.

3. In a roundabout, the combination of astationary center post, aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down relatively to thepost, flexible connections suspending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the rotation of said platform, amember adapted to be rotated about said post, and arms con.- nectingsaid rotatable member and said platform for rotating said platform aboutsaid post.

4:. In a roundabout, the combination of a platform, a stationary centerpost extending upwardly through the platform, connec tions suspendingsaid platform from the up-. per end of said post, a driving memberrotatable about said center post, and arms con meeting said drivingmember and said platform for causing said platform to be rotated by saiddriving member about said stationary post.

5. In a roundabout, the combination of a stationary center post, aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down relatively to saidpost, flexible connections suspending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the rotation of said platform, adriven member rotatable in a fixed position about said post, and armspivoted on said member and having a movable connection with saidplatform for imparting rotary movement to the platform and permittingthe up and down movement thereof.

6. In a roundabout, the combination of a stationary center post, aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down relatively to saidpost, flexible connections suspending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the rotation of said platform, apulley rotatable about said post, and connecting members pivotallyconnected to said pulley and pivotally and slidably connected to saidplatform for imparting movement'to the platform.

7. In a roundabout, the combination of a stationary center post, aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down relatively to saidpost, flexible connections suspending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the rotation of said platform, apulley rotatable about said post, and connecting members each comprisinga part pivotally connected to said pulley and a part pivotally connectedto said platform, said parts being slidably connected.

8. In a roundabout, the combination of a stationary center post, aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down rela tively to saidpost, flexible connections suspending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the copies 0! this patent msy beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the rotation of saidplatform, a pulley rotatable about said post, an arm pivoted to saidpulley, and a bearing in which said arm is slidable lengthwise, saidbearing being pivotally mounted on said platform.

9. In a roundabout, the combination of a stationary center post,aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down relatively to saidpost, flexible connections suspending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the rotation of said platform, apulley rotatable about said post, an arm having a bifurcated portionpivoted on said pulley, and a piv oted bearing on said platform in whichsaid arm is slidable lengthwise.

10. In a roundabout, the combination of a stationary center post, aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down relatively to saidpost, flexible connections suspending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the rotation of said platform, abase having an upwardly extending tubular portion in.

which said post is seated, a pulley journaled on said tubular portion ofthe base, and means connecting said platform and said pulley for drivingthe platform.

11. In a roundabout, the combination of a stationary center post, aplatform adapted to rotate and to move up and down relatively to thepost, flexible connections suspending said platform from said post andadapted to be wound on said post by the rotation of said platform, amember rotatable about said post and operatively connected with saidplatform, a motor for driving said member, and a. clutch interposedbetween said motor and said member for driving said member in eitherdirection of rotation.

Witness my hand, this 18th day of November, 1914.

JOSEPH D. GUINN. Witnesses:

C. W. PARKER, C. B. HORNBECK.

"Commissioner 01' Istents.

wlshingtol, D. 0."

